Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2006RI50B

Incorporating Latest Technologies in a Cost-Effective Design of Rainfall Catchment and Filtration Systems for Coastal Rhode Island Communities

Institute: Rhode Island
Year Established: 2006 Start Date: 2006-03-01 End Date: 2007-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $12,662 Total Non-Federal Funds: $42,191

Principal Investigators: Janet Baldwin

Project Summary: With this project, methods and materials for rainfall collection, storage, and treatment will be evaluated in order to design a system that would be adequate to meet average household water usage requirements. The system must be cost-effective, easy to install and maintained, and provide a significant benefit to the user. The systems components will include a catchment system and storage unit. In addition, because the water quality can decrease as the water is stored, filtration systems will be evaluated to improve water quality. Rainfall catchment systems provide a sustainable water supply and can be installed for use as the main water supply for a household or for limited use such as landscaping needs. Water supplies are frequently unable to meet the demand of a growing population. In many coastal Rhode Island communities, salt water intrusion has limited the capacity of groundwater to completely provide adequate water supply for household use. In areas that are not served by a public water system, inadequate groundwater supplies can mean that households must curtail water use during the summer months when groundwater levels are at their lowest. While the ancient practice of rainwater collection could alleviate the strain on water supplies during the peak months, few households have the knowledge necessary to choose the best system to meet their needs. The available options are many due to significant advancements in materials and filtration; too many for the average person to evaluate. The product of this research will be a design for a system that will best meet the needs of Rhode Islanders and will be an improvement to the traditional technology.